When I do water changes I am taking it from the gravel... also cleaning out the gravel...
I had added salt to the tank also...
I had added salt to the tank also...
water conditions... fish dyeing?
- Thread starter misscrosson
- Start date
For the moment, salt will help to reduce nitrite toxicity, but at about 1 tsp. per gallon you will reach the maximum usefulness of the salting. Whether you use table salt or aquarium salt is irrelevant, they're the same thing.
This tank is not finished cycling, or if it has for one reason or another the colonies crashed and you're re-cycling.
Aeration can be useful on overstocked tanks to replenish O2, but this tank is not overstocked, O2 levels are not to blame.
The fish are dieing from nitrite poisoning and it can take time for the colonies to regenerate. Do a 50% water change and rinse out all the filter media in the bucket of old tank water. Clean the gravel and remove any decaying material from the tank.
Proceed with 2 50% water changes daily, one in the morning and one in the evening, this should take care of your nitrite levels, there really aren't that many fish in the tank - for a 70 gallon.
Unless there are nitrates in your water supply, there's no reason for them to be that high. This regimen will get the NO3 levels down as well. Nitrates are an indicator of tank pollution by fish hormones and other organic compounds which we cannot measure. 40ppm should be your upper limit target, 20ppm would be more conservative and better.
This tank is not finished cycling, or if it has for one reason or another the colonies crashed and you're re-cycling.
Aeration can be useful on overstocked tanks to replenish O2, but this tank is not overstocked, O2 levels are not to blame.
The fish are dieing from nitrite poisoning and it can take time for the colonies to regenerate. Do a 50% water change and rinse out all the filter media in the bucket of old tank water. Clean the gravel and remove any decaying material from the tank.
Proceed with 2 50% water changes daily, one in the morning and one in the evening, this should take care of your nitrite levels, there really aren't that many fish in the tank - for a 70 gallon.
Unless there are nitrates in your water supply, there's no reason for them to be that high. This regimen will get the NO3 levels down as well. Nitrates are an indicator of tank pollution by fish hormones and other organic compounds which we cannot measure. 40ppm should be your upper limit target, 20ppm would be more conservative and better.
I'm sorry - I've usually held back from the bob bashing - but what on EARTH are you talking about bob. An air stone doesn't actually really add any more OXYGEN to the water (you're not really trying to get your fish to breath hydrogen are you?) it is only a decorative effect. Your oxygen, such as it is, is gained through the surface area of your tank and the interaction of molecules between the top of your h20 and the atmosphere.
Sorry. Had to point that out.
Misscrosson - be patient. I know this feels like absolute hell. I had exactly the same thing - was just about to give up - then overnight my nitrites disappeared and all was well.
Once you're there you're going to love it!
R
Sorry. Had to point that out.
Misscrosson - be patient. I know this feels like absolute hell. I had exactly the same thing - was just about to give up - then overnight my nitrites disappeared and all was well.
Once you're there you're going to love it!
R
Well, as I pointed out, aeration does bring the dissolved gasses in the water towards atmospheric equilibrium, but that doesn't necessarily translate into an increase in O2.
In any case, that is not the problem in this tank.
In any case, that is not the problem in this tank.
Sorry Happychem - that was in no way aimed at you!!! I obviously hit post after you did... I agree with you on the problem not relating to aeration - I was referring to Bob's statements.
Misunderstanding tastic. I'm now going to get my temper back under control and ignore nonsensical things again. I'm no fun when I'm grumpy.
R <---- back being nice and supportive and never having a bad word to say again.
Misunderstanding tastic. I'm now going to get my temper back under control and ignore nonsensical things again. I'm no fun when I'm grumpy.
R <---- back being nice and supportive and never having a bad word to say again.
No worries Ripples, I knew that it wasn't pointed at me, I doubt that my post was even up when you started typing yours. 
I just read your post and realized that I wasn't very clear in mine.
I just read your post and realized that I wasn't very clear in mine.Blah.. .but the thing is that I only have a 3gallon bucket... so doing massive water changes takes hours... seriously.. and it sucks...
I did a 80% water change... and the levels only went down some... but by the next day they were all high again... I've been doing about... 15-25% water changes daily...
I did a 80% water change... and the levels only went down some... but by the next day they were all high again... I've been doing about... 15-25% water changes daily...
